Animal feeder

Abstract

An animal feeder includes an open ended food container that is hinge mounted at a normal inclined position on a ground support. The container pivots upwardly about a fixed horizontal transverse axis when the animal tries to remove the container from the support. This unnatural, upwardly pivoting movement discourages further attempts to remove the feeder, and the animal, thus discouraged, continues to feed at the site.

1. An animal feeder for an animal at a selected feeding site, comprising: a ground support member vertically supported at the site; at least one cylindrical food container characterized by a cap member and a base member connected at a threaded connection with a bottom portion of the base member remote from said threaded connection removed to provide an open ended cavity for holding food attractive to the animal; a plate member; a hinge member pivotally connecting said plate member to an upper portion of said ground support member at a fixed transverse horizontal axis, said cap member being fixedly connected to said plate member with said cavity facing outward; and stop means between said cap member and said support member providing a normal position for said food container inclined upwardly and outwardly an angle of between about 5° to 30° with respect to a horizontal plane while permitting additional pivotal movement upwardly from said normal position upon pulling by the animal thereby providing an unnatural response discouraging the animal from further pulling. 
   
   
     2. The animal feeder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said support member includes an elongated arm member having a ground penetrating lower end for removable installation at the site. 
   
   
     3. The animal feeder as recited in  claim 2  wherein said ground penetrating lower end is a helical auger. 
   
   
     4. The animal feeder as recited in  claim 2  wherein said support member includes a transverse lower cross member at a lower end for assisting ground penetrating installation at the site. 
   
   
     5. The animal feeder as recited in  claim 4  wherein said cap member is connected to a planar backing member operatively connected to said hinge means. 
   
   
     6. The animal feeder as recited in  claim 5  wherein said backing member is engagable with said arm member to establish said stop means for said normal position. 
   
   
     7. The animal feeder as recited in  claim 6  wherein said cap member is connected to said backing member with a fastener having a projecting portion engaging said support member to establish said stop means for said normal position. 
   
   
     8. The animal feeder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said support member is an existing vertical member at the site and including adjustable strap means for connecting said hinge means and said food container to said existing vertical member. 
   
   
     9. The animal feeder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said support member is an existing vertical member at the site and including a cylindrical cap member connecting said hinge means and said food container, said cap member being telescopically inserted over an upper end of said existing vertical member. 
   
   
     10. The animal feeder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said food container is a plastic jar with a bottom portion removed and containing peanut butter in said cavity providing access thereto by the animal. 
   
   
     11. The animal feeder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said angle is between about 10° to 20° to limit spillage of food in said cavity while providing environmental protection therefor.